Bhanupli–Leh line

The Bhanupli–Leh line is an under-construction, high-elevation, all-weather, 489 km (304 mi) long, 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide gauge, electrified railway track connecting Bhanupli[2] in Punjab state to Leh in Ladakh union territory of India.[3][4][5] It will reduce travel time from New Delhi to Leh to 10 hours. Passing through seismic zone IV and V at an elevation of 600m to 5,360m above sea level, the line will surpass China's Qinghai–Tibet railway to become the highest railway in the world.[6][7] The Indian Defence Ministry identified this project as one of the four important strategic railway connections to the border with China.[8][9] The line, with a total length of 489 km (304 mi), including the 13 km (8.1 mi) Leh-Sasherthang rail link, will cost ₹99,000 crore (~US$12.4 billion). This includes ₹62,0000 crore (~US$7.75 billion) for 62 tunnels of total 270 km length, 114 major bridges and 90 minor bridges.[6] The construction phases are:

  • Phase-0: Bhanupli to Barmana in Bilaspur, 63.1 km (39.2 mi) long link connecting Ladakh to Indian railway network at existing Bhanupli station of Ambala-Sirhind-Una rail line.[3] As of February 2022, the completion date for this under-construction track is 2025.[10]
  • Phase-1: Barmana to Mandi.
  • Phase-2: Mandi to Manali.
  • Phase-3: Manali to Upshi.
  • Phase-4: Upshi to Leh.
  • Phase-5: Leh to Sasherthang 13 km (8.1 mi) link, included in the project at the request of Indian Military.[3]

Bhanupli–Leh line
Overview
Status
  • Final Location Survey & DPR completed
  • Land acquisition in progress
  • Bhanupli-Bilaspur section under construction
LocalePunjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, India
Termini
Websitehttp://www.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
ServicesBhanupli–Bilaspur–Sundernagar–Kullu–Manali–Keylong–Leh
Technical
Line length489 km (304 mi)
Track length489 km (304 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationIn Progress
Highest elevation5,359 m (17,582 ft) at Taglang La
Route map
Srinagar (planned)
 Leh
 Choglamshahr
 Sindhughat
 Shey
 Thicksey
 Rabirpora
 Chang-Karu
 Upshi-Junction
 Rumtse
 Taglang La
 Debring
 Pang
 Lachalungla
 Sarchu
 Baralachala
 Dharcha
 Jispa
 Keylong
 Tandi
 Sissu
 Rohtang Hault
 Manali
 Naggar
 Kullu
 Bhuntar
 Aut
 Pandoh
Joginder Nagar (planned)
 Mandi
 Bilaspur
 Jagatkhana
 Dharot
 Thural
 Bhanupli
to Chandigarh Junction
Taglang La

Significance & features

After the Jammu–Baramulla line, the Bhanupli–Leh line will be the most challenging railway project in Indian Railways due to high mountains, a large number of tunnels, high bridges, and severe cold weather.[6] To cater to military logistics needs, the loop line will be constructed at five stations for the exclusive use of military loading and unloading at Karu, Sissu, Debring, Leh, and Sesharthang. The rail line will be extended 13 km (8.1 mi) from Leh to Sesharthang.[3]

Construction phases

The project will require the acquisition of 1,100 ha (11 km2) of land, of which 26% is forest land, at a cost of ₹11,500 crore (~US$8.5 billion). 150 km (93 mi) of approach roads will be constructed.[3]

Phase-0: Bhanupli to Barmana (Bilaspur), 63.1 km

Phase-0 is from the existing Bhanupli railway station, in Rupnagar district of Punjab state, on Ambala-Sirhind-Una railway line, to Barmana in Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh state. It has a total track length of 63.1 km (39.2 mi), 20 tunnels totalling 25 km (16 mi), 24 bridges totalling 6 km (3.7 mi), and 2 viaducts totalling 2 km (1.2 mi).

Of these, only seven tunnels are part of phase-0a (Bhanupli in Punjab to Dharot in Naina Devi tehsil of Bilaspur district). The remainder of the tunnels, and both viaducts, are in phase-0b.

There are five main stations in this phase: one in Punjab, at Thural; and four in Himachal Pradesh, at Dharot, Jagatkhana, Bilaspur, and Barmana.[10][11]

Phase-1: (Barmana) Bilaspur to Mandi, ~30 km, under land acquisition

As of May 2022 land acquisition, between Barmana and Mandi, for this phase is underway.[12]

Phase-2: Mandi to Manali, ~180 km, under land acquisition

This section lies entirely within Himachal Pradesh.[3]

Phase-3: Manali to Upshi, ~380 km, under land acquisition

This section connects Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh.[3]

Phase-4: Upshi to Leh, ~45 km, under land acquisition

This section lies entirely within Ladakh.[3]

Phase-5: Leh to Sasherthang military link, 13 km, under planning

This section, which lies entirely within Ladakh, will serve the Indian military's logistics needs on India-China LAC, India-Pakistan LOC in Ladakh and Kashmir, and India-Pakistan AGPL in Siachen. This section has a tunnel and a bridge.[3]

Future extensions

  • 1. Leh-Srinagar rail line, 480 km, Rs55,896 project, awaiting the "strategic national project" status & approval.[6][13]
    • 1.1. Leh-Kargil rail line, 210 km.[13]
    • 1.2. Kargil-Srinagar rail line, 225 km.[13]
  • 2. Leh-Pathankot line, 664-km, Rs70,308 crore project, awaiting the "strategic national project" status & approval.[6]

Status updates
  • December 2016: The 498 km (309 mi) Bhanupli–Leh rail Final Location Survey (FLS) was approved, at a cost of ₹345 crore. The railway requests adequate land, to set up a camp office in Ladakh and the required infrastructure, from the LAHDC.[16]
  • June 2017: The then Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu, laid the foundation stone to mark the beginning of FLS.[17] FLS to be completed by October 2020.[18]
  • December 2021: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Leh-Sasherthang rail link (for military logistics) completed.[3]
  • February 2022: Land acquisition begins in Bilaspur district for the (Barmana) Bilaspur to Mandi section of Phase-1.[12]
  • May 2022: The completion date for phase-0 will be 2025.[10] Seven tunnels of Phase-0a (Bhanupli to Dharot) are complete; track-laying work began.  Tenders for Phase-0b (Dharot to Bilaspur) were allocated, and construction began.[11]
  • July 2023: "Bilaspur-Leh line" final survey and DPR completed, no target completion date for construction given. Other 2 rail routes to Leh, "Leh-Srinagar line" & "Leh-Pathankot line", were surveyed but abandoned due to low traffic projections and consequent financial non-viability.[6] These 2 abandoned projects can still go ahead if the central government grants the "strategic national project" status due to the political will or pressure from the public.

See also

References
  1. "Bhanupli Railway Station Timeline - Railway Enquiry".
  2. "Bhanupli Railway Station Timeline - Railway Enquiry".
  3. "डीपीआर तैयार: सेना के लिए चीन सीमा तक अलग से बिछेगा 13 किलोमीटर रेल ट्रैक". Amar Ujala. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. "Himachal: Railways Awards Bhanupali-Bilaspur Railway Line Project". Nvonews.com. 19 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. "Rail link to Leh: Centre seeks Plan panel nod". visitladakh.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  6. New Rail Lines for Leh-Pathankot, Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Shelved Due to Low Traffic Projections, News18, 29 July 2023.
  7. "Leh? Soon, It'll Be Just a Train Ride Away". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. "Four places along China border identified for rail connectivity: Government". The Economic Times. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  9. Manta, Dipender (22 June 2020). "Centre expedites land acquisition for Bilaspur-Leh railway line". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  10. , Amar Ujala, 24 April 2022.
  11. रेल विकास निगम: भानुपल्ली-बिलासपुर-लेह रेललाइन के लिए बिछने लगा ट्रैक, Amar Ujala, 15 May 2022.
  12. "Land acquisition for strategic rail line begins in Himachal". 9 February 2022.
  13. "The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh line is a proposed railway line from Srinagar station via the town of Kargil to Leh by Indian Railways. The line was designated a national project on 26 February 2013 - www.Rail-Pass.com". www.rail-pass.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  14. "Budget 2012-2013 Speech of Dinesh Trivedi Minister of Railways. March 14, 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  15. "'Manali–Leh railway line project report with Planning Commission'". Himvani.com. 26 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. "Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line on fast track". The Times of India. 3 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. Khosla, Sakshita (27 June 2017). "Train to Leh, Ladakh: Suresh Prabhu lays foundation stone for Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh Rail Line to be built at a cost of Rs 157 cr". India.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.
  18. "Centre announces final location survey of three railway lines in Arunachal Pradesh". The New Indian Express. PTI. 1 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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